Gazette Midday: Budget sets stage for vote; more clashes in Kyiv

Hello and welcome to montrealgazette.com and welcome to Midday. Here’s the rundown on some of the stories we’re following for you today.

A report Wednesday by Quebec’s auditor general, questioning the practices of the finance department, has set the stage for the pre-election budget the Parti Québécois government will present on Thursday. Finance Minister Nicolas Marceau would go no farther Wednesday than to say his budget will be “responsible” after interim auditor general Michel Samson presented an evaluation of Marceau’s November financial update the minister called “credible, solid and realistic” at the time. Asked if his 2014-15 budget would include surprises, Marceau said, “we’ll see if you are surprised.” Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard had an entirely different interpretation of Samson’s report, saying it confirms Liberals’ suspicions that Marceau “did not present an accurate view” of Quebec’s finances, and noted Samson did not receive all the documents he sought. As well, he was denied timely access to finance department officials.

Meanwhile, it was a plea from the heart from a person who has invested four years of her political life into the issue. So have dozens of citizens across Quebec and politicians of all stripes in one of those ever-so-rare moments of political consensus. But cabinet minister Véronique Hivon was practically speechless on Wednesday when faced with the possibility the province’s new dying-with-dignity law, Bill 52, may itself die on the order paper over petty politics sparked by the pending election. “We have a cause here that is bigger then us,” Hivon said. “It’s just surrealistic that we are putting this bill in peril. I can’t believe it’s possible that it’s being taken hostage. I don’t think it’s possible. Quebecers expect so much more of us.” But in the overheated atmosphere of the National Assembly, logic is being tossed out the window.

Fearing that a call for a truce was a ruse, protesters tossed firebombs and advanced upon police lines Thursday in Ukraine’s embattled capital. Government snipers shot back and the almost-medieval melee that ensued left at least 70 people dead and hundreds injured. Video footage on Ukrainian television showed shocking scenes Thursday of protesters being cut down by gunfire, lying on the pavement as comrades rushed to their aid. Trying to protect themselves with shields, teams of protesters carried bodies away on sheets of plastic or on planks of wood. Protesters were also seen leading policemen with their hands held high around the sprawling protest camp in central Kyiv. Ukraine’s Interior ministry says 67 police were captured in all. It was not clear how they were taken. An opposition lawmaker said they were being held in Kyiv’s occupied city hall.

Eleven centres will start collecting mail at community boxes this fall as Canada Post begins its move to end door-to-door delivery. It’s the first stage of a five-year plan announced in December and will involve about 100,000 addresses. Canada Post says that in large cities during this phase, only a few neighbourhoods will be affected, and delivery will continue to businesses. In the smaller municipalities, nearly all households and a higher proportion of businesses will move to community mailboxes. Canada Post says these neighbourhoods are near areas that already have community mailboxes, so the infrastructure is already in place. The Crown Corporation will ask for feedback about the change for use as the program moves to other communities.

And finally, Jennifer Jones is undefeated in Olympic curling in Sochi. After winning 11 straight games, she is now the gold medal champion after defeating Sweden in a 6-3 match on Thursday. The Canadians stole two in the ninth after Sweden’s Maria Prtytz wrecked her final shot. The Winnipeg skip has now added the Olympic title to the world championship she won in 2008 as well as four Canadian crowns. In the process, Jones, third Kaitlyn Lawes, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn McEwen matched Canadian skip Kevin Martin’s feat of winning Olympic gold with a perfect 11-0 record. It’s Canada’s second women’s curling gold. The late Sandra Schmirler won the first in Nagano,Japan, in 1998.

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